Detroit Red Wings jump out early, then hang on late for 5-3 win over Buffalo Sabres
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Detroit Red Wings put themselves in position to have an easy night and then made it difficult.
A four-goal lead turned into a one-goal game midway through the third period Tuesday at KeyBank Center as the Buffalo Sabres made the most of their man advantages. It was captain Dylan Larkin who settled things down when he scored into an empty net with 45.4 seconds to play; he also scored the first goal in the 5-3 victory.
The Wings (14-7-3) squandered a 3-0 and 4-2 lead Saturday at Montreal but were able to pull out a victory in overtime.
They had to make do for a stretch in the third period without Larkin, who was hit from behind by Tyson Jost.
Newcomer Patrick Kane watched from the press box; he is expected to make his debut later this week. Kane will join a team that's on a roll: Since returning from the Global Series in Sweden, the Wings have won six of seven games. Tuesday's was a big one from the standpoint it padded their lead over a divisional opponent.
Larkin and Robby Fabbri put the Wings up 2-0 in the first period, and Moritz Seider scored during a man advantage in the second period. Michael Rasmussen made it 4-0 before Rasmus Dahlin, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, dented Alex Lyon during a Sabres power play.
Casey Mittelstadt scored at 8:20, and Jeff Skinner converted on the Sabres fourth power play. Jake Walman took a high-sticking penalty with 1:51 to play and the Sabres pulled their goalie to have an extra attacked.
Strong start
The Wings scored first for the third straight game, with Larkin firing a rising slap shot into the net just 3:40 into the game. By then Joe Veleno and Lucas Raymond already had sent shots on net, too. The Sabres started Eric Comrie, whose 54 career NHL includes three with Detroit in 2019-20, the season when Jimmy Howard's struggles forced them to try anyone available (and the season they won only 17 games when the pandemic put them out of their misery). Comrie posted a 4.28 goals-against average, prompting the Wings to dump him on waivers.
Line clicking
Fabbri endured a challenging start to the season: He played in the opener, was sidelined 11 games with an injury, played one game and then sat out another game. Now he has eight goals in 10 games. He scored his sixth at even strength near the mid-point of the first period, making the finishing play on a stretch where the Wings won puck battles to keep cycling the puck in Buffalo's zone; David Perron was especially key to keeping play alive, and earned the second assist. Their line with Andrew Copp (who also assisted) has developed some good chemistry, and given the Wings another scoring option.
Power play converts
The power play delivered for a seventh consecutive game. Jeff Skinner was called for tripping Jeff Petry at 4:29. Seider's unit did a good job moving the puck around as the Sabres rushed to take away options like Daniel Sprong in the right circle. Ultimately it was Seider who got the puck through, firing a shot from up top, with Fabbri and Alex DeBrincat drawing the assists.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her @helenestjames.
Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her latest book, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.
Next up: Sharks
Matchup: Red Wings (14-7-3) vs. San Jose (6-17-2).
Faceoff: 7 p.m. Thursday; Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.
TV/radio: Bally Sports Detroit; WXYT-FM (97.1).
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings jump out early, hang on late for 5-3 win at Buffalo
